Advice regarding skirting boards

[Concepta]

I just finished painting my daughters bedroom before Christmas and only have the skirting boards to do. Our doors are white and so are the skirting boards. I find the skirting boards so hard to keep clean and the paint always seem to go from white to off white. I was thinking of changing the skirting boards to pine. Would it make the room look silly with the doors and architrave white and skirting boards pine. There is a wooden floor in the room. Your advice would be much appreciated. I know you will all give me your honest opinion. I just don't have a clue. Just wish the whole house had pine doors, skirtings etc - would be so much easier to keep. We are useless at painting and can't afford to bring someone in.

[OpheliaPain]

i like white

[Concepta]

White is nice and I would prefer it but they don't stay the lovely white that they are painted - and I've tried so many different types of paint. The paint goes a yellowy colour.

[Concepta]

Have googled and found that you can get PVC White Skirting boards - never knew that before. What do you think of them? What are they like?

[ceres]

if you use water based gloss it shouldn't yellow - it is the oil in traditional gloss that causes it to yellow.

[Concepta]

does solvent based paint mean oil based - I don't have a clue!

[CuppaTeaJanice]

I hate white skirting boards except with brightly coloured walls. They make cream walls seem dark - if you've seen that optical illusion where there are 2 same coloured grey squares but one looks loads darker than the other - it's the same principle.

Why not paint the skirting boards a darker colour, something that goes with the decor of the room. Won't show the dirt so much and will make the walls look brighter.

[Concepta]

Do I paint the door as well with the darker colour and if so what parts do I paint and what do I not - do I do the architrave too?

[nappyzonecantrunfortoffee]

wow bumpping to find out about upvc skirting boards as kids rooms both need new uns when knocked through - anyone experience of them?

[Concepta]

New Years Resolution - I'm not using Mumsnet anymore - never get any help when I ask a question. Goodbye.

[southeastastra]

lol

alot of work to change them to pine, though i imagine they would look great.

i painted all mine a sort of taupe colour. never fades and looks good, though have to touch up occasionally.

i painted the door frames too. hth

[nappyzonecantrunfortoffee]

ahhh but you learned about upvc skirting boards ........

[CuppaTeaJanice]

Yes paint the architrave too, but not the doors.

New Years Resolution - not going to bother giving anybody any advice on Mumsnet anymore............charming, Concepta

[kitsmummy]

Concepta, are you actually blind because I can see a fair few bits of advice in this post? Skirting and architrave should be the same, whether pine or painted. Use eggshell, that won't yellow.

[Fizzylemonade]

nappy My friend has upvc skirting in her new extension, she loves it. I was worried that it would crack if you bumped it with a vacuum cleaner but is has survived 2 years. Looks very white.

Just thought I would be helpful to nappy who also asked about the upvc skirting boards.

[noddyholder]

pvc skirting boards NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[purepurple]

I have upvc skirting in my conservatory and kitchen. It has been in for about 4 years and only needs a wash to keep it looking good.

[nappyzonecantrunfortoffee]

Thanks fizzy and all - i to worry about the bumping bit as i have a ds of 3 who likes to ram trucks into my current paintowrk - in middle sof extension and wodnering if we should opt for it in the new areas having just got upvc facias outside on new bit and am excited at the lack of maintenance.